Thread Lift

Absorbable thread lift is a non-surgical, minimally invasive facelift and/or body contouring procedure that uses absorbable biodegradable suture threads to lift, sculpt and tighten skin on the neck and face, buttocks, arms and other areas. Thread lifts generally lift the skin by a few millimetres giving a natural-looking result. Thread lifts are suitable for mild to moderate signs of skin laxity

Types of absorbable thread lifts commonly used

• Poly-L-lactic acid thread: Silhouette Soft
• Poly-L lactic acid and polycaprone: Happy lift or Definisse threads
• Polydioxanone: Mint thread lift

Thread lifts are used to improve the following conditions

• Lift, tighten and redefine sagging skin
  • Lift sagging eyebrows
  • Soften nose to mouth lines (nasolabial folds)
  • Soften mouth to chin lines (marionette line)
  • Lift sagging jowls
  • Improve cheek volume
  • Tighten loose skin on the neck
• Stimulate collagen production to restore skin firmness
• Stimulate collagen and elastin to improve wrinkles and fine lines
• Non-surgical facelift with minimal downtime and low risk for
  • Contours of the face
  • Jawline
  • Cheeks and mid face
  • Neck
• Reposition localised fat pockets
• Adjust asymmetric eyebrows

Candidates for thread lifts

• Patients who want a non-surgical skin lift but are not ready for surgery
• Patients who request minimal downtime
• Patients who had a facelift and wish to extend their results
• Young patients who wish for a more defined face shape or contour
• Patients who had skin tightening procedures

Thread lift mechanism of action

Thread lift provides an early mechanical lifting effect as well as a biological effect by stimulating the natural production of collagen in the months that follow, for progressive and natural results

• The mechanical lift is the result of compressing and elevating tissue at the time of adjusting the suture
• Tightening of the sutures results in the skin being lifted and smooth looking
• The biological lift is a gradual regenerative effect. The biodegradable suture acts on the deeper layers of the skin and stimulates the production of collagen. Over time the new collagen increases the volume of the saggy areas and restore the contour and shape of the treated area

The thread lift treatment procedure

• Dr Joyce Lim will assess the ideal position to insert the threads.
• The area is cleaned and anaesthetised
• The entry and exit points of the threads are marked
• The threads are inserted into the skin
• The number of threads used will depend on the problem areas and your desired results
• Once the threads are inserted, Dr Joyce Lim will perform slight compression of the tissue to reshape it by hand and to obtain the desired lifting effect
• The procedure takes about 30 minutes
• There may be bruises or mild swelling after the procedure and you can continue normal activities right after the procedure

Post thread lift instructions

• You should minimise movement of the face for a few days after the treatment to allow the threads to settle
• Wash, shave and dry the face gently without rubbing
• Avoid facial massages or other aggressive facial treatments
• Avoid excessive exercise and high-impact sports for 2 weeks
• Sleep on your back with the head slightly elevated on pillows for a week
• Avoid any dental treatment for 3 weeks
• Avoid alcohol, vitamin E, aspirin or fish oil for the next 24 hours
• Take any post-treatment medication is given by the doctor